Jose Vazquez-Cofresi

• function: co-owner
• company: Handle With Care Productions Inc.

visited Events

• virtualWOMEX

"Jose Vazquez-Cofresi" aka: "Manos de Hierro" in english means "Iron Hands". (born on September 18, 1975 in Biloxi, Mississippi) born to Puerto Rican parents, is a noted conguero, composer, and bandleader of salsa.

Jose Vazquez-Cofresi's parents moved constantly overseas and from state to state due to his fathers military duties. Vazquez-Cofresi's father and grandfather had an important influence on his music. Around 1994 Julián Silva and José were introduced and stormed up the idea for their first salsa orchestra. The orchestra received international and national recognition which got them noticed by "The Godfather of Salsa"; Johnny Pacheco and Herman Rodriguez-Bajanda who would eventually relocate them to New York City.

In 2001, José Vázquez-Cofresi & Julián Silva would organize an orchestra with the "Salsa Gorda/Salsa Dura" sound. During the summer months of 2001, the first rehearsals were held at El Museo del Barrio on 104th Street. The collaboration of some of New York's finest vocalists and musicians would come to form the 12-piece salsa sensation now known as "La Excelencia".

In 2006, José Vázquez-Cofresi & Julián Silva produced "La Excelencia's" first salsa album "Salsa Con Conciencia" (salsa with a conscience) under HWC Productions, which has been acclaimed as one of the best salsa albums of the year.